This study examines a sample of Chinese listed companies from 2009 to 2021 and finds that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance significantly reduces bankruptcy risk. Robustness tests support the bankruptcy risk mitigation effect of ESG performance. Mechanism analysis shows that ESG performance reduces bankruptcy risk by decreasing systematic risk and alleviating financing constraints. Further analysis indicates that the performance of the three dimensions of ESG, namely Environment (E), Social (S), and Governance (G), contributes to the reduction of bankruptcy risk.